Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1887-04-08
Our Parish Mystery.

No one would ever ave thought that our
Iite village IN Kent was destined 10 immortal
ity twas one of the most comonplace OF
English hainles, inhabited only by fishermen
ana farm lab0rers. Oar yicarlge the grange,
and pretty little cottage called Sea View,
were the only respectable houses in the place.
On our arrival at the parsonage Sea View cot
taee was T. let, and SO all the society that
was TO be had was that OF the grange people,
the squire and his family. Now though Mr..
and Mrs. Dale were excellent people In their
way and very hospitable there was certainly
some excuse for our wishing for an occasional
change OF society, aud al the more SO that We
had come to sanlyille from one Of the most
; fashionable towns in the north Of England. 1t
was therefore with great pleasure that we
heard one day from Mrs. Dale that sea View
cottage had at last found tenant
"And more than mere tenant added the
squire radiantly; "a person OF great dIstinc-
ton. | consider that that piece OF house
property has trehled in value since signed
the lease With Mrs. Mort"
"Mortr cried You don't mean James
Mort, the au thor OF "Georgetten
THE same" answered Mrs. Dale, smiling,
no doubt al my hayin. confessed myself
'ea'er ol hoNeiS' 'lhe 3rcal hoNcu3I lie mas
taken inc mouse Ior nine Years
nave you seen hlih' NhAt Is ne NAe'
ashet anN.ously'
No We nave only seen MS VIC She
came over lrom Dover Yesterday lhey nave
just arrived from farS' where MI MORT mas
been living. lie was too fatigued to accom-
pahy hcr' Inc passage iIom CaiaIs had
greatly upset him. Mrs. Mort seems charm
inu Dprsf,p fhpuuh ~ ipr paeuliar -
And when are they coming to I've heref
rs soon As the hou'e Is IN order We nave
got The men in now Job'on promised to have
II ready IN fortnight
About three weeks later mr husband and
called ou our ne" pari'h'ouer'. We were re-
ce'ved by Mrs. Mort, WHO answered the bell
herself
lh' ptf~"n ana hls wife ! should say from
y"W ''", come JOB. d'h keep servant
you -ot DON'T W'Ne noise. ms way,
piece.
Was some" Fat a-toni-het at tbs welcome
which was Ir''l and ahupdy spoken My
husband. co7.l see fton his preternatural
SOLEMN eN. e-sIou was mr'ius violent effort
a. control his laughter Ger ainiy Mrs. Mort
ca F.rY coluic'. h-ure. she was tall Tat
woman, with very rel face and was dressed
~ black gown that might have been made IN
Ia unlc' the first empire The waist came
~ 90 close beneath the breast and was cir
ciei with flowing white sash Her hair was
cur quite LurL Ike man $
Suppr sSIns our laughteras best We could we
followed her int' the drawing room. We we're
surnri-ed % TIM that The windows which com
niandrI an excellent view OF The sea, had been
p'ast'rcd over Win red paper which cont
pleteIy hid The outside, aud cast a lurid
and unpleasant light over the interior OF
the room The furniture consisted Of a sofa
covered with back stun, two arm chairs en-
suite TWO other chairs, piano. and a round
table There WAS no carpet en- the floor, and
the walls were simply whitcwashed The cell
lns was stucl. over With black paper. ON the
table w,r. various books which / recognized.
BY their titles. a. Mrs Morris work 4 picture
With It's face turned TO the wal hung over the
piano. O.rr tie door Was fixed 4 bracket. on
wh cl stood arg. pla>ter-c4,t bust, the head
- ol which was exiting shed under paper fools
= -p
"Wc'N tak. the weather for granted" said
Mr- Mort, mutouing Us &c sir down. Let's
.a.> of s4m.thirg else
NJ husband behaved like darling. ! am
certain thatu | hal opened nav molrh at that
moucut should have burst into fts Of
laughter He saw this and came to the
resfle.
I'VE hore YOU are comfortably settled In
your u.w home Mrs. Mort he said How
DO you Ike sonlvic;'
Saalv.l.a: oh, YES Know nothing about
g. rctor,cl the lady
Shc uli not sat down but was stand u
with her back to the wall, with her hands be-
hind her.
You have not had the time TO see the
place vet continued my husband. 1T is
quiet. hut very charming There are some de
hghtful walks by the seaside II is just the
place .Jr a literary man. Mr. Mort will be
del GIFTED wi,h IT,"
.'OIi VIII Aer' answered his wife.
% che way, how Is hel" asked 1--WE
had hoped to see him. | trust he IS not un-
well"
mo, he's asleep"
A. I ,,resun,o ba hos nat ra,,s.cr.1